In 1988, Mijalche Durgutov decided to leave his football career behind, and instead, begin a career reporting on the sport. Over a span of several years Durgutov has played for Bregalnica (S), Tri Cesmi, Astibo, Plachkovica and Kezovica.
He was employed as a sports journalist for the daily newspaper "Nova Makedonija".
Durgutov has penned numerous texts, interviews and reports from various sporting events not only for Nova Makedonija, but also for the first sports magazine in Macedonia "SKOK" and later the first sports daily newspaper and portal owned by Durgutov himself.
In 1990 Durgutov attended his first World Cup held in Italy to report for Nova Makedonija.
"It was my first World Cup and despite all the preparations, anxiety and uncertainty that came with it, it was a great experience for me. I followed and reported from the finals when Argentina lost to Germany and my first text was titled "The Tears of Maradona ".
Durgutov’s presence at the last 7 world cups were an opportunity to meet with top former and current football personalities. A particularly memorable moment was his meeting with the extraordinary Bulgarian representative Hristo Stoichkov.
“After returning from the World Cup in the US in 1994, when Bulgaria was a great surprise, Stoichkov gave me his first interview whilst we were airborne and added that he would be the recipient of the Best Footballer of the Year award.”
At the World Cup in France in 1999, he joined the entire Croatian team, but the meetings with former Italian coach Enzo Beardzot, Fabio Capello, Jorge Valdano, Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini, Sir Bibi Charlton, Gabriel Batistuta, Roberto Carlos and many others are unforgettable football names.
Here are some photos from Mijalche Durgutov's album.
As a journalist, Durgutov watched closely as Australia's made its WC selections in the 2006 World Cup in Germany and South Africa in 2010.
A stand out game was the Soceroos’s match against Italy at the World Championships in Germany, which he says Italy won on the strength of a non-existent penalty, but, was pleasantly surprised by the good game Australia had played.
According to Durgutov, the most football focused country where football reigns 24 hours a day, in victory or in defeat, is Brazil. Something he says he felt at the 2014 World Cup held in Brazil.
This June, Mijalche Durgutov will be travelling to Russia, clocking up his eighth consecutive World Cup assignment.
"I'm looking forward to a well organized event and a successful championship." he said, "Long-term experience tells me that European selection will triumph in Russia. However, the current champion Germany is not among them.
Belgium may be involved in the fight for the cup together with Spain, Argentina and possibly Brazil and France. Costa Rica will be a surprise.
Despite being able to lay claim to eight world championships and several European championships, as well, Durgutov has one remaining unfulfilled dream, at least for the time being.
"My dream is to one day be able to report from a World Cup which will include Macedonia ".
